Although the team was lacking in number, due to members commitment at other masonic halls, the performance at Euxton Lodge in Leyland was anything but lacking.
The early start at 4:30 for a pick up by the minibus places the usual pressures on those who work for a living and have to arrange to finish early. One or two of the team even having to make their own way to the venue at a later time.
The Leyland Venue is superb and offered excellent facilities for the demonstration team to get changed and settled. The first order of the evening was to introduce ourselves to the DC Brian Haslam and the Worshipful Master Graham Miller and set up the 1759 lodge room with all its trappings and candles. Our usual candidate was one of those attending other masonic duties so it was arranged that the Tyler of Euxton Lodge join the 1759 team as candidate. W.Bro Geoff Moore seemed more than happy to be initiated in the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry.
The lodge room slowly filled up with 47 members and visitors and the business of the evening concluded, whilst the 1759 performers readied themselves for another bout of masonic history.
With candles providing the only illumination and the tyler filling tankards with ayle the performance flowed swiftly. The highlight of the evening is the Secretary’s minutes in which he takes the opportunity to make fun of some of the statesmen of the Lodge we are visiting, this always goes down well with the audience and raises a big laugh. Geoff Moore, the stand in candidate did a tremendous job, and by all appearances thoroughly enjoyed himself. Geoff, not being in period dress was sternly reprimanded by the Junior Warden of the dress code at 1759 masonic meetings and informed him not to attend in his working garb in future.
Final toasts to the King and the Worshipful brought the performance to a close.
The Euxton Lodge Social Board was well received by the team, who stayed in period dress for the duration and even managed to propose a toast to The King during the festivities.
Another donation of £400.00 was presented by the Worshipful Master of Euxton Lodge to the 1759 Team for their performance in the Lodge, which will be added to the 2015 Festival Total.